Condor

I'm drawn to Condors. To me this endangered creature is more reminiscent of a dinosaur than a vulture, so statuesque and grand. Here is a Condor I've been working on for months now. I've been stuck on it but I'm determined to have it complete in time for the EnDanger show. I kind of like the way it is now half done, it looks as though he's fading into extinction.

Interesting facts: The California Condor is one of the most endangered birds, the population steadily declined to less than 25 in the late 1980's. This is mainly due to shooting and poisoning, the remainder were captured for captive breeding programs. Many cattle ranchers would shoot the birds thinking they were "killing" their livestock when in fact condor's live off already dead animals. By 1992, the first captive bred California Condors were reintroduced in the state.

Measurements: The California Condor has a body length of 43-52 inches, a wingspan up to 9 1/2 feet and weighs 18-23 pounds